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Teen Walking to Tenoroc High School Dies When Struck by Van

Tracks in the shoulder of the northbound lane of Old Dixie Highway mark the spot where the 1999 Dodge Caravan came to a stop after striking and killing 17-year-old Enrique Hernandez on Wednesday morning as Hernandez was walking to school at Tenoroc High School.

Published: Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at 10:31 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 12:13 a.m.

AUBURNDALE | A 17-year-old student walking to school in the dark Wednesday morning was hit by a minivan and killed, the Sheriff's Office said.

Enrique Hernandez of 710 McCampbell Road, Auburndale, was struck while walking in the northbound lane of Old Dixie Highway in an area about a half-mile north of U.S. 92 that doesn't have sidewalks or streetlights, officials said. They said they think he was wearing earphones.

Hernandez was on his way to Tenoroc High School, where he was three days into his senior year, after missing his school bus, school district officials said.

His aunt, Cristina Hernandez, said Wednesday that Hernandez was a hard worker in all aspects of life and almost never missed school. She said he worked doing construction for years — and, in fact, helped build her house — and that he was proud of recently buying a new cellphone with his own money.

"I know everyone says this about their loved ones," she said, "but this kid, he was an excellent, excellent person."

<p>AUBURNDALE | A 17-year-old student walking to school in the dark Wednesday morning was hit by a minivan and killed, the Sheriff's Office said.</p><p>Enrique Hernandez of 710 McCampbell Road, Auburndale, was struck while walking in the northbound lane of Old Dixie Highway in an area about a half-mile north of U.S. 92 that doesn't have sidewalks or streetlights, officials said. They said they think he was wearing earphones. </p><p>Hernandez was on his way to Tenoroc High School, where he was three days into his senior year, after missing his school bus, school district officials said. </p><p>His aunt, Cristina Hernandez, said Wednesday that Hernandez was a hard worker in all aspects of life and almost never missed school. She said he worked doing construction for years — and, in fact, helped build her house — and that he was proud of recently buying a new cellphone with his own money.</p><p>"I know everyone says this about their loved ones," she said, "but this kid, he was an excellent, excellent person."</p><p>Sheriff's Office reports say Prakesh Patel, 50, who was driving a 1999 Dodge Caravan northbound, attempted to avoid hitting Hernandez around 6:20 a.m.</p><p>However, the teen ended up on the west shoulder of the road and Patel's van landed in a ditch on the east side of the road.</p><p>Patel stopped his vehicle and attempted to provide aid to Hernandez. Neither impairment nor speed appears to be a factor in the crash, according to the Sheriff's Office.</p><p>Deputies declared Hernandez dead at the scene.</p><p>The crash investigation is continuing.</p><p>Hernandez's three sisters, younger brother, mother, stepfather and aunts, uncles and cousins gathered at a relative's home Wednesday afternoon to comfort each other. </p><p>Cristina Hernandez said Enrique would always help people with their houses or anything else they needed.</p><p>He told family members he wanted to work construction with his stepfather after graduation. Or join the military. Or become a famous rapper. </p><p>His cousins talked about playing basketball with him and said that he had a lot of friends at school and "always had a girlfriend."</p><p>School officials said grief counselors were on site at Tenoroc High School on Wednesday.</p><p>This isn't the first time a Tenoroc High student has been struck and killed on Old Dixie Highway. </p><p>In December 2009, Colton Meyers, 14, was walking home from school when another Tenoroc High student tried to pass a car and hit Meyers as he was crossing the road.</p><p>In 2010, a vehicle and bicycle collided on Old Dixie Highway near U.S. 92. The bicyclist, who survived, was determined to be at fault. And in May, a pedestrian was struck in a nonfatal hit and run.</p><p>Much of the grass is overgrown along the highway and drainage ditches are only a few feet from the street.</p><p>Cristina Hernandez said people walk and bike along the nearby stretch of Old Dixie Highway all the time and that she considers it dangerous. </p><p>"My kids are not allowed to walk on it," she said.</p><p>Students and parents complained about the lack of a sidewalk on a narrow portion of Saddle Creek Road east of the school, another road frequently used by students, when Tenoroc opened in 2008. </p><p>Soon afterward, officials reduced the speed limit on the road and added a traffic light and sidewalks.</p><p>[ Sara Drumm can be reached at 863-401-6971 or sara.drumm@newschief.com. Miles Parks can be reached at 863-802-7516 or miles.parks@theledger.com. ]</p>